16Jan
HUMILITY FOR HONOUR
Matthew 9:18-19
18 While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and she will live.” 19 So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.
Jairus was a ruler in the synagogue and a father. The synagogue ruler was an elected position among the religious leaders. The person was highly respected, both capable and popular, a person who wielded great power. He determined who was to teach in the synagogue worship and supervised the whole operation. He was one of the most important men in a community. Jairus’ daughter was only twelve years old. Jairus was a man of strong love, a man who loved his daughter ever so deeply; and he was a man of strong courage. He showed remarkable courage in approaching Jesus, for he went against the tide of the other religionists who were violent in their thoughts against Jesus. The other religionists were bound to react against Jairus. Only the sense of desperation would stir him to approach Jesus, and then he would approach Jesus only as a last resort. It was the desperate need of his daughter that drove him to Jesus. Note four things about the man and his desperation:
a. His hopelessness: he was so hopeless he interrupted Jesus while Jesus was preaching and teaching. His little daughter was dead, gone forever. He loved his daughter and he apparently loved her more deeply than most. He stood up against the world, that is, against the censoring and hostility of his peers. He was an elected official by the religious elders; therefore, he was probably risking his position by coming to Christ. Only an unusual love and belief would have driven him to approach Jesus in the face of so much opposition. One thing should always receive priority over all else-the cry of a hopeless and helpless person. When the hopeless and helpless approach us, we should immediately stop and go to them and do what we can. Prayer, study, preaching-all are to take a back seat to helping those who have need. The need Jesus met was immediate and urgent. He simply responded by arising and going as requested. Afterall, your response to the call of a hopeless and helpless person the answer to the prayer of someone. God is glorified in this. Whatever is good to do, that you know of, do it for your own sake. “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).
b. His attitude: he worshipped Jesus; he fell down at the Lord’s feet. Remember this was a distinguished man, an elected official who oversaw the administrative responsibilities of the most important institution in a Jewish city-the synagogue. He was a dynamic example of how leaders should approach Christ: in humility, worship, and faith. “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4). “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). We will never know the mercy of Christ until we humble ourselves and become as little children (Matthew 18:3). “…..And before honor is humility” (Proverbs 18:12). Too often, the desperate needs of loved ones drives us into a state of helplessness and hopelessness, of depression and self-pity. The need may be severe illness, terrible trouble, or death. However, despair is not the answer to desperate needs. The answer is to lift up our heads to Jesus for the salvation of our loved ones. We are to come before Christ and ask Him to help us. He never turns away.
c. His request: he asked Jesus to come and touch his daughter. “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him” (Psalm 91:15). “Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity” (Isaiah 58:9). “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3). We must ask Jesus for His touch-to touch us, to touch our need-and He will.
d. His faith: “She shall live.” This man was a man of great faith. He believed that if Jesus would just come, his daughter would live. He believed Christ could raise her from the dead. This man was driven to Jesus by a tragic event. God at times uses tragedy to drive us to Jesus. Every man should approach Jesus in tragedy, but he should approach in a spirit of worship and belief-truly believing and trusting that Jesus will help. “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matthew 21:22). “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14). “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him” (Psalm 91:15).
e. Jesus response: Note Jesus’ response to the Jairus desperation. Jesus arose and acted by following the man, by going to his house where the need was. There was no hesitation whatsoever. “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3). The ruler was so desperate that he interrupted Jesus while Jesus was preaching and teaching. Jesus did not stop him nor rebuke him. He said nothing. He simply responded to the man’s desperate and hopeless cry. Jesus always receives and responds to a man… • who is desperate, • who confesses his hopelessness and helplessness, • who acknowledges his need and believes that Jesus can help. Jesus never turns from a desperate man who comes to Him. In fact, He does not even hesitate to help the man. He will not even take the time to speak. He will arise and follow the desperate man to meet his need. Jesus is ever ready to help. He longs to help.
Note that Jesus will visit us wherever our need is. In this event Jesus left his meeting and the opportunity to preach and teach in order to meet the desperate need. What a lesson for us! How much we need to learn what the priorities really are!
Finally, “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life” (Proverbs 22:4).
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